Cops warned shot boy's mum

THE mother of shot schoolboy Giuseppe Gregory had been warned her son's life was at risk from gangs, the M.E.N can reveal today. Giuseppe, 16, was blasted in the head as he sat in a VW Golf in the car park of the Robin Hood pub in Stretford.

THE mother of shot schoolboy Giuseppe Gregory had been warned her son's life was at risk from gangs, the M.E.N can reveal today.

Giuseppe, 16, pictured, was blasted in the head as he sat in a VW Golf in the car park of the Robin Hood pub in Stretford.

It is understood that last November police handed his mum a letter saying they were concerned that his life was at risk because he was associating with gangsters. The letter was delivered as part of Operation Cougar in which police treated young gang members as children at risk.

The M.E.N. can reveal Giuseppe had been arrested in November on suspicion of possessing heroin with intent to supply.

He was arrested as part of a series of raids across Longsight aimed at preventing young men getting involved in gun and gang crime. It is believed Giuseppe was at a house of a suspected gangster where police found drugs. Police decided to take no further action against Giuseppe because the Crown Prosecution Service ruled there was insufficient evidence.

Arrested

Giuseppe, whose nicknames included G-Sepz, was studying for his GCSEs at Cedar Mount School in Gorton.

Police believe he had connections to the Longsight Crew, which is affiliated to Manchester’s notorious Gooch gang. In 2006, when he was 13, Giuseppe was shot in the leg fleeing gunmen near the Apollo Theatre, Ardwick. Men in a silver car opened fire at the teenager and a friend, who survived despite being shot five times.

It is understood his mum insists he was not a gang member.

Anita Counter, acting headteacher at Cedar Mount High School, said: “Giuseppe was a warm, considerate and caring young man who brought a great deal of joy to a whole variety of people within the school community. His strong, infectious and charming personality and his characteristic smile will be deeply missed. by all who knew him.

“He was a highly intelligent and articulate young man who had a positive attitude towards his studies. We have every confidence that he would have gone on to achieve considerable exam success this year and in the future.

Tragic

“His family’s tragic loss will be extremely difficult for them to bear and all our support, thoughts and prayers are with them at this time.”

Last night, armed officers were on the streets of Manchester in a bid to prevent revenge attacks and give reassure to the public. Giuseppe’s death is the first gang related fatal shooting in 15 months and the first since 10 members leaders and lieutenants of the Gooch gang were locked up last month following a lengthy trial.

A detective said: “There had not been any recent increase in gang tensions recently. This came out of leftfield. We are still trying to establish what was going on in that car park and once we know that we will be able to establish whether this is the beginning of hostilities or a one off incident. But of course there are real concerns there could be tit-for-tat attacks.”

Giuseppe, from Ardwick, was shot in the head as he sat in the green Golf in the pub car park of the Robin Hood pub in Stretford just before midnight on Sunday. It is understood he and his friends had been chased out of the pub moments earlier.

Police believe the gunmen who opened fire into the back of the car may have been taken to the scene in a private hire taxi, a Honda Accord registration V797 LCP. They have appealed for anyone who spotted the Golf or the Honda to come forward.

Balaclavas

The Robin Hood, on the corner of Barton Road and Urmston Lane, had been packed with Manchester United fans who watched the Reds beat City in the derby.

“One of them had a gun and the next thing we heard some gunshots down the road. I was upstairs counting the tills.

“When it happened, all the fire alarms went off. The pub was full after the derby. There were probably about 250 people, obviously everyone was scared.”

Three of Giuseppe’s friends who were in the Golf drove him to Trafford General Hospital but he died around 2.30am yesterday with his family at his bedside.

Last night Trafford Divisional Commander Chief Superintendent Janette McCormick, urged witnesses, community members and those who knew where Giuseppe was earlier that night to come forward.

She said: “At the moment there are a number of lines of inquiry that we’re looking at. It maybe linked to other incidents that have taken place, either earlier on that evening in and around the pub, but also might be linked to other activities in the area. So at this stage we are not negating any lines at all and we’re looking into them all. That’s why we’re very open to anything the community can come forward with.

Quizzed

“This pub holds a music event every Sunday night. There are people who attend it regularly and I’m sure were there last night. It’s those people who go week in, week out who may know who is behind this.”

A 22-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murder has been released on bail until July 13 pending further enquiries.

Two others, aged 18 and 20, have been released without charge.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0161 856 2025 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.